our musicians
Tyler Austin, Artistic Director & Conductor
Dr. Tyler Austin works to redefine the role of the 21st-century wind conductor. Austin serves as Artistic Director and Conductor of Maryland Chamber Winds (MCW), an international ensemble of performers who come together to present an annual concert series and educational outreach program. MCW is ensemble-in-residence for the Maryland Wind Festival, a two-week festival of wind chamber music and outreach based in Frederick and Hagerstown, Maryland, and the surrounding communities.
A committed advocate of new music, Austin has commissioned and premiered over 30 works for winds. He founded the annual MCW Composer Commission Project in the Summer of 2016 to produce original works for chamber winds and has headed recording projects to provide composers with professional recordings of their works. He studied orchestration with Zhou Tian at Michigan State University and has been mentored by David Biedenbender and Adam Schoenberg.
Dr. Austin maintains an active career in academia and currently serves as Assistant Director of Bands at Oklahoma State University where he conducts the OSU Concert Band and Frontiers New Music Ensemble. He teaches courses in the Music Education area and holds an additional appointment as Instructor of Bassoon. Austin completed a D.M.A. in Wind Conducting at Michigan State University under Dr. Kevin Sedatole. Prior to his study at MSU, he served as Director of Bands at St. John’s Catholic Prep in Frederick, MD and actively freelanced as a bassoonist with wind bands and orchestras throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. He holds an M.M. in Bassoon Performance from the University of North Texas under Professor Kathleen Reynolds, and a B.M. in Music Education from Susquehanna University.
Matthew Angelo, Executive Director & Flute
Flutist Matthew Angelo is an active arts administrator and freelance musician currently based in Easton, Pennsylvania and serves as Executive Director of the Maryland Chamber Winds. Previously he has served as Operations & Personnel Manager with the Allentown Symphony Orchestra, Administrative Assistant and Special Events Coordinator for the Bach Choir of Bethlehem and Personnel Manager and Librarian for the Hartford Independent Chamber Orchestra. In the summer of 2020 he was selected to participate in Akropolis Reed Quintet’s Mastermind, a week long program focusing on entrepreneurialism in music.
As a flutist, Matthew has give performances across the United States as well as in China at the 2018 Lianhuashan Glades Music Festival, France at the Cité Internationale des Arts and Foundation des Estats-Unis, and the Czech Republic in a twelfth century monastery in the small village of Nová Říše. He is the flutist with NakedEye Ensemble, Maryland Chamber Winds, Manor Winds Woodwind Quintet, and the Pocono Pops Orchestra. Additionally, Matthew has played with the Delaware Symphony Orchestra, Reading Symphony Orchestra, Bay-Atlantic Symphony, and the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic. He performed at the 2016 & 2018 National Flute Association Conventions and the 2015 Navy Band International Saxophone Symposium and has been a guest clinician with the Chester County and York Youth Symphonies. Matthew can be heard on the MSR Classics’ album Three-Nine Line: Music of Nicole Chamberlain with flutists Mary Matthews and Nicole Chamberlain as well as Tonsehen Records’ album Preludes & Recitations with the Maryland Chamber Winds. An advocate for new music, Matthew has premiered over 25 works by prominent American composers.
Matthew began studying the flute at the age of 10. He received a Master of Music Degree from The Hartt School and as Bachelor of Music Degree from West Chester University of Pennsylvania. His principal teachers include Dr. Kimberly Reighley and Janet Arms. When not performing, Matthew enjoys spending time at home with his fiancé (also named Matt), their golden doodle Dakota, and family and friends. He enjoys tackling home improvement projects, cooking, and is an avid traveler and amateur photographer.
Evan Harger, Assistant Conductor
Evan Harger is Director of Orchestral Activities and Instructor of Music at Marywood University where he teaches courses in music history, world music, conducting, and other subjects. An active guest conductor, Harger has collaborated with the Oregon Mozart Players, the St. Petersburg State Symphony, the Maryland Chamber Winds, and the Riverside Chamber Symphony. Harger is currently completing his Doctorate in Orchestral Conducting at Michigan State University where he is a student of Kevin Noe.
An advocate for teaching applied philosophy to music majors, he has presented at the Oxford Conducting Studies Institute on John Dewey’s Philosophy of Mind and how it can inform our rehearsal culture. Additionally, he has presented on the pedagogy of contemporary music and early music for music students.
Evan is delighted to have been a part of this recording process as Assistant Conductor and Producer, and hopes that the listener experiences as much joy as the musicians did in performing this wonderful music. He would like to thank Music Director Tyler Austin for being such a strong advocate for wind music in the state of Maryland and for being a close friend and colleague.
Yuji Jones, Education Coordinator
Yuji Jones is in his seventh year as Co-Director of Bands for the Marion City Schools Band Department in Marion, Ohio. Yuji co-teaches the 6th, 7th and 8th grade Grant Middle School concert bands, conducts the Harding High School concert band, woodwind choir, musical pit orchestra, assists with the jazz ensemble, and serves as Assistant Director of the marching band. Students and ensembles under Yuji’s direction have received numerous superior ratings at OMEA Solo & Ensemble and Large Group Adjudicated Events at both the district and state levels. Prior to his appointment at Marion City Schools, Yuji taught middle school band and general music in Southern Indiana and Nashville, Tennessee. Yuji received his Bachelor of Instrumental Music Education with an emphasis in Instrumental Conducting from Indiana University- Bloomington receiving high honors.
Yuji maintains an active schedule performing with several community ensembles including the Winds of Ohio (WoO), Marion Palace Theatre Big Band, and the Marion Community Concert Band. He has also served as a guest clinician for Ohio area school bands, band festivals, is an active honor band conductor, and presented at the Ohio Music Educators Association (OMEA) state conference on multiple topics. Yuji is a member of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Access, Antiracism Committee for OMEA and believes that everyone has a place in making music, no matter their background.
Yuji also serves as the Education Coordinator for the Maryland Chamber Winds. He is responsible for having MCW artists engage with music students throughout Maryland via original and unique educational experiences. Students have worked with MCW artists both virtually and in-person, connecting them with our musicians who hail from across the US.
Flutist Mary Matthews' playing is described as lovely and elegant but also aggressively declamatory, with a gorgeous dark tone (Flutist Quarterly). She enjoys an active career as an international soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral flutist and has performed on four continents in venues such as Carnegie Hall, Severance Hall, the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Fundação Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina, Festival Goethe Institut Música Nueva, and Cité Internationale des Arts. In March of 2021, she will make her concert debut in Japan at the Urayasu Concert Hall as part of the International Low Flutes Festival. She has performed as a soloist and chamber musician at the Newport Music Festival and is a regular member of the Maryland Wind Festival. Dr. Matthews is Assistant Professor of Flute at Tennessee Tech University's School of Music where she is a member of the faculty woodwind quintet, the Cumberland Quintet. Additionally, she is principal flutist of the Bryan Symphony Orchestra and records soundtracks to movies, television shows, and video games as part of the Ocean Way Studios scoring orchestra in Nashville. In addition to her position with the Bryan Symphony, she has played with orchestras across the state of Tennessee including the Knoxville Symphony and Symphony of the Mountains.
A sought-after performer of new music, Mary has premiered over 30 new works by prominent American composers. She is known for her command of extended techniques and her adventurous programming. In February of 2018, she released the album "Three-Nine Line" on the MSR Classics label in collaboration with flutist-composer Nicole Chamberlain and flutist Matthew Angelo. The album features Nicole Chamberlain's solo, duo, and trio works for flute. Additionally, she is half of Duo Rossignol with soprano Hillary LaBonte, and the two have been featured at New Music Gathering, the Dairy Arts Center's Soundscape series, and the National Flute Association convention. She also performs as a member of the Khemia Ensemble, a 12-member ensemble dedicated to the programming of diverse and innovative repertoire.
Dr. Matthews has presented masterclasses, recitals, and lectures at Colorado State University, the Metropolitan State University of Denver, Middle Tennessee State University, University of Wyoming, Bowling Green State University, Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music, and the Peabody Institute, among others. Prior to relocating to Tennessee, she was on faculty at The Hartt School Community Division in West Hartford, CT for four years where she served as head of the Adult Chamber Music Program and launched the Suzuki flute program. Additionally, Dr. Matthews was an adjunct faculty member at The University of Hartford's The Hartt School, a flute faculty member at the International School of Music in Bethesda, MD, a woodwinds faculty member at the Parlando School for Musical Arts in Boulder, CO, and a teaching artist with the el Sistema programs, El Sistema Colorado and the Hartford Symphony’s CityMusic.
Dr. Matthews holds a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree from The Hartt School, a Master of Music Degree from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, and a Bachelor of Music Degree from the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music. Visit www.MaryMatthewsFlute.com for more information about Dr. Matthews’ research and teaching philosophy.
Flutist Mary Matthews' playing is described as lovely and elegant but also aggressively declamatory, with a gorgeous dark tone (Flutist Quarterly). She enjoys an active career as an international soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral flutist and has performed on four continents in venues such as Carnegie Hall, Severance Hall, the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Fundação Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina, Festival Goethe Institut Música Nueva, and Cité Internationale des Arts. In March of 2021, she will make her concert debut in Japan at the Urayasu Concert Hall as part of the International Low Flutes Festival. She has performed as a soloist and chamber musician at the Newport Music Festival and is a regular member of the Maryland Wind Festival. Dr. Matthews is Assistant Professor of Flute at Tennessee Tech University's School of Music where she is a member of the faculty woodwind quintet, the Cumberland Quintet. Additionally, she is principal flutist of the Bryan Symphony Orchestra and records soundtracks to movies, television shows, and video games as part of the Ocean Way Studios scoring orchestra in Nashville. In addition to her position with the Bryan Symphony, she has played with orchestras across the state of Tennessee including the Knoxville Symphony and Symphony of the Mountains.
A sought-after performer of new music, Mary has premiered over 30 new works by prominent American composers. She is known for her command of extended techniques and her adventurous programming. In February of 2018, she released the album "Three-Nine Line" on the MSR Classics label in collaboration with flutist-composer Nicole Chamberlain and flutist Matthew Angelo. The album features Nicole Chamberlain's solo, duo, and trio works for flute. Additionally, she is half of Duo Rossignol with soprano Hillary LaBonte, and the two have been featured at New Music Gathering, the Dairy Arts Center's Soundscape series, and the National Flute Association convention. She also performs as a member of the Khemia Ensemble, a 12-member ensemble dedicated to the programming of diverse and innovative repertoire.
Dr. Matthews has presented masterclasses, recitals, and lectures at Colorado State University, the Metropolitan State University of Denver, Middle Tennessee State University, University of Wyoming, Bowling Green State University, Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music, and the Peabody Institute, among others. Prior to relocating to Tennessee, she was on faculty at The Hartt School Community Division in West Hartford, CT for four years where she served as head of the Adult Chamber Music Program and launched the Suzuki flute program. Additionally, Dr. Matthews was an adjunct faculty member at The University of Hartford's The Hartt School, a flute faculty member at the International School of Music in Bethesda, MD, a woodwinds faculty member at the Parlando School for Musical Arts in Boulder, CO, and a teaching artist with the el Sistema programs, El Sistema Colorado and the Hartford Symphony’s CityMusic.
Dr. Matthews holds a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree from The Hartt School, a Master of Music Degree from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, and a Bachelor of Music Degree from the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music. Visit www.MaryMatthewsFlute.com for more information about Dr. Matthews’ research and teaching philosophy.
Acclaimed for his expressive performances, oboist Matthew Hudgens performs as a chamber, orchestral, and solo musician across the United States and abroad. Matthew specializes in HIP (historically informed performance) on a number of period oboes from the renaissance, baroque, and classical, and has added the recorder to his arsenal of instruments. Matthew Hudgens received his BM at East Tennessee State University, an MM at University of North Texas, and an MM in Historical Performance from The Juilliard School. Matthew’s primary teachers have been Aryn Sweeney, James Ryon, Kathryn Montoya, Gonzalo Ruiz, and Nina Stern.
Hudgens has shared the stage with some of the biggest names in early music from Rachel Podger, Nicholas Mcgeegan, Richard Egar, to William Christie, Pablo Heras-Casado, and Masaaki Suzuki. He has had the privilege to travel the world with Juilliard415, Juilliard’s prestigious historical performance program, and has performed with Les Arts Florissants, one of the most famed early music ensembles in the world.
Mr. Hudgens is also an avid modern player and can be heard on a number of recordings on the GIA wind works label with the Grammy-nominated North Texas Wind Symphony and Loan Star Wind Orchestra. Hudgens is a member of the Maryland Chamber Winds, an ensemble that “seeks to enrich our community through high-quality performances of contemporary and classical wind chamber music, educational programs, and commissioning projects.” The ensembles debut recording Prelude and Recitations is available now. As an orchestral musician, Mr. Hudgens has preformed with the Grand Junction Symphony, Johnson City Symphony, North Texas Symphony, Dallas Bach Society, Orchestra of New Spain, and was named Runner-up for Principle oboe for the Colorado Springs Philharmonic.
Aside from performing, Mr. Hudgens is an active teacher. He has held an oboe studio of 45 students in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area for more than two years, before returning to school. He has taught master classes from beginning to collegiate students, and continues to teach in the Eugene, Oregon where he currently resides.
Acclaimed for his expressive performances, oboist Matthew Hudgens performs as a chamber, orchestral, and solo musician across the United States and abroad. Matthew specializes in HIP (historically informed performance) on a number of period oboes from the renaissance, baroque, and classical, and has added the recorder to his arsenal of instruments. Matthew Hudgens received his BM at East Tennessee State University, an MM at University of North Texas, and an MM in Historical Performance from The Juilliard School. Matthew’s primary teachers have been Aryn Sweeney, James Ryon, Kathryn Montoya, Gonzalo Ruiz, and Nina Stern.
Hudgens has shared the stage with some of the biggest names in early music from Rachel Podger, Nicholas Mcgeegan, Richard Egar, to William Christie, Pablo Heras-Casado, and Masaaki Suzuki. He has had the privilege to travel the world with Juilliard415, Juilliard’s prestigious historical performance program, and has performed with Les Arts Florissants, one of the most famed early music ensembles in the world.
Mr. Hudgens is also an avid modern player and can be heard on a number of recordings on the GIA wind works label with the Grammy-nominated North Texas Wind Symphony and Loan Star Wind Orchestra. Hudgens is a member of the Maryland Chamber Winds, an ensemble that “seeks to enrich our community through high-quality performances of contemporary and classical wind chamber music, educational programs, and commissioning projects.” The ensembles debut recording Prelude and Recitations is available now. As an orchestral musician, Mr. Hudgens has preformed with the Grand Junction Symphony, Johnson City Symphony, North Texas Symphony, Dallas Bach Society, Orchestra of New Spain, and was named Runner-up for Principle oboe for the Colorado Springs Philharmonic.
Aside from performing, Mr. Hudgens is an active teacher. He has held an oboe studio of 45 students in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area for more than two years, before returning to school. He has taught master classes from beginning to collegiate students, and continues to teach in the Eugene, Oregon where he currently resides.
Oboist Dr. Andrew W. Parker is currently the Assistant Professor of Oboe and Director of Summer Music Camps for the Michael and Anne Greenwood School of Music at Oklahoma State University. He has performed throughout the United States and internationally at some of the world’s most prestigious concert halls including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Kimmel Center, The Long Center, Texas Performing Arts, The Peace Center, Seoul Performing Arts Center, Symphony Space NYC, and Westchester Performing Arts Center, along with many others.
Dr. Parker previously held the position of Lecturer in Oboe and Music Technology at Brevard College, was the Woodwind and Brass coach for the Greenville County Youth Orchestra, and taught privately for numerous school districts in Texas, Connecticut, and North Carolina. He is a sought after educator and has been invited to give master classes, reed-making seminars, career development workshops, and recitals at the SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Music, Central Washington University, Arkansas State University, Middle Tennessee State University, and the Usdan Center for Performing and Visual Arts, among other colleges and high schools around the United States. Dr. Parker has also been a guest artist performer and chamber music instructor at the Wellesley College Composers Conference and Chamber Music Festival.
As an avid orchestral and chamber musician, Dr. Parker has held positions with the Greenville Symphony Orchestra, Spartanburg Philharmonic, Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra, and the Brevard Philharmonic. He has performed with the Asheville Symphony Orchestra, Austin Symphony Orchestra, Amadeus Chamber Orchestra, Round Rock Symphony Orchestra, Temple Symphony, Atlantic Music Festival Orchestra, Symphony Space All-Star Orchestra, and Le Train Blue New Music Ensemble, along with performances in Seoul, Korea with Symphony S.O.N.G (Symphony Orchestra for a New Generation). Dr. Parker has also made solo appearances performing Copland's Quiet City with New York City based chamber orchestra Ensemble Du Monde and Mozart’s Oboe Concerto with the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York.
Along with his teaching and performing engagements, Dr. Parker has worked extensively in Arts Administration focusing his efforts on arts education. Most recently, he was the Artistic Administrator for the Brevard Music Center, Managing Director of the Yale Philharmonia and New Music New Haven Ensemble, and Orchestra Manager for the Atlantic Music Festival.
Dr. Parker received his Bachelor of Music degree from the SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Music, Master of Music from the Yale School of Music, and Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Texas at Austin. He has attended numerous summer festivals including the Texas Music Festival, Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, Brevard Music Center Festival and Institute, Atlantic Music Festival, and the Roundtop International Music Festival. His major teachers have been Rebecca Henderson, Stephen Taylor, Humbert Lucarelli, Johnathan Blumenfeld, and Valerie Sulzinski. He has concurrently participated in master classes with Robert Botti, Richard Woodhams, Louis Rosenblat, Robert Atherholt, Ann Leek, Eric Ohlsson, Ashley Mary Barrett, Adam Dinitz, and Jason Lichtenwalter.
Oboist Dr. Andrew W. Parker is currently the Assistant Professor of Oboe and Director of Summer Music Camps for the Michael and Anne Greenwood School of Music at Oklahoma State University. He has performed throughout the United States and internationally at some of the world’s most prestigious concert halls including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Kimmel Center, The Long Center, Texas Performing Arts, The Peace Center, Seoul Performing Arts Center, Symphony Space NYC, and Westchester Performing Arts Center, along with many others.
Dr. Parker previously held the position of Lecturer in Oboe and Music Technology at Brevard College, was the Woodwind and Brass coach for the Greenville County Youth Orchestra, and taught privately for numerous school districts in Texas, Connecticut, and North Carolina. He is a sought after educator and has been invited to give master classes, reed-making seminars, career development workshops, and recitals at the SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Music, Central Washington University, Arkansas State University, Middle Tennessee State University, and the Usdan Center for Performing and Visual Arts, among other colleges and high schools around the United States. Dr. Parker has also been a guest artist performer and chamber music instructor at the Wellesley College Composers Conference and Chamber Music Festival.
As an avid orchestral and chamber musician, Dr. Parker has held positions with the Greenville Symphony Orchestra, Spartanburg Philharmonic, Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra, and the Brevard Philharmonic. He has performed with the Asheville Symphony Orchestra, Austin Symphony Orchestra, Amadeus Chamber Orchestra, Round Rock Symphony Orchestra, Temple Symphony, Atlantic Music Festival Orchestra, Symphony Space All-Star Orchestra, and Le Train Blue New Music Ensemble, along with performances in Seoul, Korea with Symphony S.O.N.G (Symphony Orchestra for a New Generation). Dr. Parker has also made solo appearances performing Copland's Quiet City with New York City based chamber orchestra Ensemble Du Monde and Mozart’s Oboe Concerto with the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York.
Along with his teaching and performing engagements, Dr. Parker has worked extensively in Arts Administration focusing his efforts on arts education. Most recently, he was the Artistic Administrator for the Brevard Music Center, Managing Director of the Yale Philharmonia and New Music New Haven Ensemble, and Orchestra Manager for the Atlantic Music Festival.
Dr. Parker received his Bachelor of Music degree from the SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Music, Master of Music from the Yale School of Music, and Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Texas at Austin. He has attended numerous summer festivals including the Texas Music Festival, Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, Brevard Music Center Festival and Institute, Atlantic Music Festival, and the Roundtop International Music Festival. His major teachers have been Rebecca Henderson, Stephen Taylor, Humbert Lucarelli, Johnathan Blumenfeld, and Valerie Sulzinski. He has concurrently participated in master classes with Robert Botti, Richard Woodhams, Louis Rosenblat, Robert Atherholt, Ann Leek, Eric Ohlsson, Ashley Mary Barrett, Adam Dinitz, and Jason Lichtenwalter.
In Fall 2019, Austin Smith was appointed Instructor of Oboe at the University of Mississippi, where he directs the oboe studio, teaches applied oboe methods, and plays with the faculty wind quintet.
As an orchestral musician, Smith is in his sixth season as principal oboe of Queen City Opera (Cincinnati). He was previously principal oboe of Opera in the Ozarks, as well as the Second Oboe/English Horn chair with the Muncie Symphony Orchestra. He has participated in summer music festivals such as the Bowdoin International Music Festival, and most recently the Maryland Wind Festival. He plays regularly with orchestras throughout the Midwest such as the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, Louisville Orchestra, Lexington Philharmonic, Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, Owensboro Symphony Orchestra, the South Bend Symphony Orchestra, among many others. He has also performed with touring groups such as Hanson, Iron & Wine, and Video Games Live.
As an active chamber musician Smith performs regularly with his Cincinnati-based wind quintet, the Wayside Winds, throughout the tri-state area on recital series at the Oxford (OH) Community Arts Center, Taft Art Museum, Salon 21 Chamber Music Series, Cincinnati Art Museum’s Chamberpalooza, Classical Revolution Cincinnati, and the Price Hill Creative Community Festival. In 2014 he was a national finalist in the MTNA chamber music competition for wind quintet.
Smith is in constant demand as an oboe reed maker. Since 2009 he has made professional reeds for Innoledy, a woodwind supply company based in Manhattan, where professional oboists around the world purchase his reeds. He has given reed making masterclasses at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, the Hartt School, the Lucarelli Oboe Masterclass, and the University of Mississippi.
Previous to his appointment to the University of Mississippi, Austin was Instructor of Oboe at Mount Saint Joseph University where he also played with the faculty wind quintet. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Hartt School of Music, and a Masters of Music degree and Artist Diploma from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. His main teachers are Bert Lucarelli and Mark Ostoich.
In Fall 2019, Austin Smith was appointed Instructor of Oboe at the University of Mississippi, where he directs the oboe studio, teaches applied oboe methods, and plays with the faculty wind quintet.
As an orchestral musician, Smith is in his sixth season as principal oboe of Queen City Opera (Cincinnati). He was previously principal oboe of Opera in the Ozarks, as well as the Second Oboe/English Horn chair with the Muncie Symphony Orchestra. He has participated in summer music festivals such as the Bowdoin International Music Festival, and most recently the Maryland Wind Festival. He plays regularly with orchestras throughout the Midwest such as the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, Louisville Orchestra, Lexington Philharmonic, Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, Owensboro Symphony Orchestra, the South Bend Symphony Orchestra, among many others. He has also performed with touring groups such as Hanson, Iron & Wine, and Video Games Live.
As an active chamber musician Smith performs regularly with his Cincinnati-based wind quintet, the Wayside Winds, throughout the tri-state area on recital series at the Oxford (OH) Community Arts Center, Taft Art Museum, Salon 21 Chamber Music Series, Cincinnati Art Museum’s Chamberpalooza, Classical Revolution Cincinnati, and the Price Hill Creative Community Festival. In 2014 he was a national finalist in the MTNA chamber music competition for wind quintet.
Smith is in constant demand as an oboe reed maker. Since 2009 he has made professional reeds for Innoledy, a woodwind supply company based in Manhattan, where professional oboists around the world purchase his reeds. He has given reed making masterclasses at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, the Hartt School, the Lucarelli Oboe Masterclass, and the University of Mississippi.
Previous to his appointment to the University of Mississippi, Austin was Instructor of Oboe at Mount Saint Joseph University where he also played with the faculty wind quintet. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Hartt School of Music, and a Masters of Music degree and Artist Diploma from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. His main teachers are Bert Lucarelli and Mark Ostoich.
Dr. Cheyenne Cruz’s playing has been described as “above and beyond the mastery of [her] instrument" and her compositions as “playful, full of humor and whimsy, almost filling the air with laughter” by Audiophile Audition. Dr. Cruz joined the University of Texas-Arlington faculty in 2016, where she teaches a thriving clarinet studio, leads clarinet choir, and coaches chamber music. She was selected as a Buffet Performing Artist in 2017, and recently joined D’Addario Woodwinds as an Artist Endorsee. Cruz holds positions on clarinet and bass clarinet with the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra, the Longview Symphony Orchestra, the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, and the South Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. Cruz has also appeared with the Dallas Winds, the Lone Star Wind Orchestra, the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, and the San Angelo Symphony. Currently, she is a member of the Madera Wind Quintet alongside her husband, bassoonist Jorge Cruz, and previously she composed and performed for the electro-acoustic duo WoodWired. Described as “Fabulous. Adventurous. Spellbinding.” by KZSU Stanford, WoodWired’s album “In the Loop” was released in 2018 under the University of Texas-Arlington Record label.
A firm believer in the intersection of performance and pedagogy, Cruz recently performed Scott McAllister’s Black Dog concerto with the UT-Arlington Wind Ensemble at the Texas Music Educators Association Conference in 2017, and frequently performs for the International Clarinet Association ClarinetFest conferences. She currently serves on the planning committee for ClarinetFest 2021, to be hosted in Fort Worth, Texas, and will be performing the world premiere of her composition Siren Songs for clarinet and live electronics. Dr. Cruz holds a Bachelor of Music from McMurry University, a Master of Music from Florida State University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of North Texas. Her primary clarinet teachers were Dr. Kimberly Cole Luevano and Dr. Frank Kowalsky.
Dr. Cheyenne Cruz’s playing has been described as “above and beyond the mastery of [her] instrument" and her compositions as “playful, full of humor and whimsy, almost filling the air with laughter” by Audiophile Audition. Dr. Cruz joined the University of Texas-Arlington faculty in 2016, where she teaches a thriving clarinet studio, leads clarinet choir, and coaches chamber music. She was selected as a Buffet Performing Artist in 2017, and recently joined D’Addario Woodwinds as an Artist Endorsee. Cruz holds positions on clarinet and bass clarinet with the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra, the Longview Symphony Orchestra, the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, and the South Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. Cruz has also appeared with the Dallas Winds, the Lone Star Wind Orchestra, the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, and the San Angelo Symphony. Currently, she is a member of the Madera Wind Quintet alongside her husband, bassoonist Jorge Cruz, and previously she composed and performed for the electro-acoustic duo WoodWired. Described as “Fabulous. Adventurous. Spellbinding.” by KZSU Stanford, WoodWired’s album “In the Loop” was released in 2018 under the University of Texas-Arlington Record label.
A firm believer in the intersection of performance and pedagogy, Cruz recently performed Scott McAllister’s Black Dog concerto with the UT-Arlington Wind Ensemble at the Texas Music Educators Association Conference in 2017, and frequently performs for the International Clarinet Association ClarinetFest conferences. She currently serves on the planning committee for ClarinetFest 2021, to be hosted in Fort Worth, Texas, and will be performing the world premiere of her composition Siren Songs for clarinet and live electronics. Dr. Cruz holds a Bachelor of Music from McMurry University, a Master of Music from Florida State University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of North Texas. Her primary clarinet teachers were Dr. Kimberly Cole Luevano and Dr. Frank Kowalsky.
Brian Do is a freelance clarinetist based in Dallas/Fort Worth. He is a clarinet instructor in Richardson and Allen Independent School Districts, where he teaches clarinet and coaches woodwind ensembles of all levels and backgrounds. Brian’s high school and middle school students have been accepted into TMEA All-Area and All-Region bands.
In 2018, Brian joined the Artist-Faculty of Maryland Chamber Winds, a non-profit organization that hosts the Maryland Wind Festival each summer to bring wind chamber music performances to Western Maryland. In addition to serving Maryland Chamber Winds as a clarinetist and bass clarinetist, Brian is also the grants manager of the ensemble and has been awarded grants from multiple foundations and organizations such as the Frederick County Arts Council, Washington County Arts Council, Community Foundation of Washington County, and the Nora Roberts Foundation.
An enthusiastic chamber musician, Brian has worked with yMusic and the Fifth House Ensemble during their respective residencies at Michigan State University. He has also performed at CollabFest at the University of North Texas, The Maryland Wind Festival, the Encore Festival in Todi, Italy, and the inaugural Selmer Clarinet Academy. During his time at Michigan State University, Brian performed with the MSU Chamber Winds at the CBDNA Regional Conference at Central Michigan University and during the international MSU Conducting Symposium. Brian strongly believes in the accessibility of music and has performed numerous outreach concerts throughout the country to communities who do not have access to live classical music.
Brian has completed degrees from Michigan State University (M.M.) and Illinois State University (B.M.). His primary instructors have included Guy Yehuda, Tasha Warren, David Gresham, and Anne Dervin. Masterclasses have included performing for Margo Garrett, David Shifrin, Stephen Williamson, Phillippe Berod, and Charles Neidich.
Brian Do is a freelance clarinetist based in Dallas/Fort Worth. He is a clarinet instructor in Richardson and Allen Independent School Districts, where he teaches clarinet and coaches woodwind ensembles of all levels and backgrounds. Brian’s high school and middle school students have been accepted into TMEA All-Area and All-Region bands.
In 2018, Brian joined the Artist-Faculty of Maryland Chamber Winds, a non-profit organization that hosts the Maryland Wind Festival each summer to bring wind chamber music performances to Western Maryland. In addition to serving Maryland Chamber Winds as a clarinetist and bass clarinetist, Brian is also the grants manager of the ensemble and has been awarded grants from multiple foundations and organizations such as the Frederick County Arts Council, Washington County Arts Council, Community Foundation of Washington County, and the Nora Roberts Foundation.
An enthusiastic chamber musician, Brian has worked with yMusic and the Fifth House Ensemble during their respective residencies at Michigan State University. He has also performed at CollabFest at the University of North Texas, The Maryland Wind Festival, the Encore Festival in Todi, Italy, and the inaugural Selmer Clarinet Academy. During his time at Michigan State University, Brian performed with the MSU Chamber Winds at the CBDNA Regional Conference at Central Michigan University and during the international MSU Conducting Symposium. Brian strongly believes in the accessibility of music and has performed numerous outreach concerts throughout the country to communities who do not have access to live classical music.
Brian has completed degrees from Michigan State University (M.M.) and Illinois State University (B.M.). His primary instructors have included Guy Yehuda, Tasha Warren, David Gresham, and Anne Dervin. Masterclasses have included performing for Margo Garrett, David Shifrin, Stephen Williamson, Phillippe Berod, and Charles Neidich.
Danny Mui is the 2nd/Bass Clarinetist of the New York City Ballet Orchestra at Lincoln Center. Prior to joining the orchestra, he was the Principal Clarinetist of the Baton Rouge Symphony and 3rd/Utility Clarinet in Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra. Danny has won and received awards in numerous solo and chamber competitions such as The Fischoff National Music Competition, National Arts and Letters Mid-Michigan Wind Competition, American Opera Society of Chicago Competition, Chicago Chamber Winds Competition, Evanston Music Club Competition, Jacqueline Event Concerto Competition, and Yamaha Young Performing Artist Competition.
He has also performed with the Grand Rapids Symphony, Ann Arbor Symphony, West Michigan Symphony, and Dearborn Symphony. Danny holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Western Michigan University, a Master of Music in Clarinet Performance from Northwestern University, and a Specialist Degree in Clarinet Performance from the University of Michigan.
Danny Mui is the 2nd/Bass Clarinetist of the New York City Ballet Orchestra at Lincoln Center. Prior to joining the orchestra, he was the Principal Clarinetist of the Baton Rouge Symphony and 3rd/Utility Clarinet in Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra. Danny has won and received awards in numerous solo and chamber competitions such as The Fischoff National Music Competition, National Arts and Letters Mid-Michigan Wind Competition, American Opera Society of Chicago Competition, Chicago Chamber Winds Competition, Evanston Music Club Competition, Jacqueline Event Concerto Competition, and Yamaha Young Performing Artist Competition.
He has also performed with the Grand Rapids Symphony, Ann Arbor Symphony, West Michigan Symphony, and Dearborn Symphony. Danny holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Western Michigan University, a Master of Music in Clarinet Performance from Northwestern University, and a Specialist Degree in Clarinet Performance from the University of Michigan.
Mason Adams is a Texas born bassoon player, currently completing his Masters of Music Degree at the Mannes School of Music in New York City where his primary teacher is Marc Goldberg. Mason has previously finished his Bachelors of Music Degree at The Hartt School in Connecticut where he also studied with Marc Goldberg. While at The Hartt School, Mason was a finalist in the Paranov Concerto Competition as well as a quarter-finalist of the 2016 Fischoff Chamber Music Competition, with the OptiKord Trio, where he traveled to compete against the top chamber music groups in the country. Mason has also been the principal bassoon player of the Hartford Independent Chamber Orchestra since 2015 where he has worked closely with local up and coming composers to spread new musical ideas and experiences to the public. In 2016 Mason went on tour with the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, performing across three different countries in many of the worlds most renowned concert halls. Recently, Mason has given a second world premiere of Vijay Iyer's Radhe Radhe: The Rites of Holi where he worked closely with conductor David Fulmer, as well as Mr. Iyer himself.
Mason Adams is a Texas born bassoon player, currently completing his Masters of Music Degree at the Mannes School of Music in New York City where his primary teacher is Marc Goldberg. Mason has previously finished his Bachelors of Music Degree at The Hartt School in Connecticut where he also studied with Marc Goldberg. While at The Hartt School, Mason was a finalist in the Paranov Concerto Competition as well as a quarter-finalist of the 2016 Fischoff Chamber Music Competition, with the OptiKord Trio, where he traveled to compete against the top chamber music groups in the country. Mason has also been the principal bassoon player of the Hartford Independent Chamber Orchestra since 2015 where he has worked closely with local up and coming composers to spread new musical ideas and experiences to the public. In 2016 Mason went on tour with the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, performing across three different countries in many of the worlds most renowned concert halls. Recently, Mason has given a second world premiere of Vijay Iyer's Radhe Radhe: The Rites of Holi where he worked closely with conductor David Fulmer, as well as Mr. Iyer himself.
Billy is a bassoonist, contrabassoonist, reed maker and teacher based in the Hudson Valley. He has performed with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, American Symphony Orchestra, and has appeared on NAXOS and Hyperion record labels. He is faculty at the Juilliard School Pre College Division, and working on his doctorate at the Hartt School. Previously he received a bachelors degree from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam, a masters degree from Northwestern University, and studied at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Billy’s ax of choice is a Benson Bell bassoon.
Billy is a bassoonist, contrabassoonist, reed maker and teacher based in the Hudson Valley. He has performed with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, American Symphony Orchestra, and has appeared on NAXOS and Hyperion record labels. He is faculty at the Juilliard School Pre College Division, and working on his doctorate at the Hartt School. Previously he received a bachelors degree from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam, a masters degree from Northwestern University, and studied at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Billy’s ax of choice is a Benson Bell bassoon.
Dr. Jorge Cruz currently serves as Visiting Lecturer of Bassoon at the University of North Texas. Prior to this appointment, he served as Adjunct Professor of Bassoon at UNT, Richland College, and Chabot College.
Jorge is the principal bassoonist of the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra and second bassoonist/contrabassoonist of the Abilene Philharmonic. He also regularly performs with the Dallas Opera Orchestra and the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, Jorge’s serves as bassoonist/saxophonist with the Air National Guard Band of the Southwest, historically known as the 531st Air Force Band, a position he has held since 2001.
Students of Dr. Cruz have been accepted into prestigious summer music festivals including the Eastern Music Festival and the Vancouver Orchestral Institute. Additionally, a student woodwind quintet he coached claimed the first place in the 2019 UNT College of Music Chamber Music Studies Competition.
An avid chamber musician, Jorge has been a member of the Madera Wind Quintet since 2009. MWQ performed for the 2012 International Horn Society Conference, 2012 International Double Reed Society Conference, and toured across the country at various universities. Their debut album, Five at Play, was comprised of five new works for wind quintet selected from their Call For Scores competition, which had over 130 submissions. In 2015, MWQ released their sophomore album, Five Piece Combo, which catalogued the three suites for woodwind quintet by Don Gillis and was produced by Ravello Records. MWQ were artists-in-residence at Adams State University in 2016. Part of their residency included recording and performing the newly commissioned work, David J. Pierce’s El Ranchero, for wind quintet and concert band at the 2017 Colorado Music Educators Association conference. Finally, MWQ premiered Jack Stamp’s Suite Madera at the 2018 UTA Clarinet Day. The piece was co-dedicated to MWQ and the Berlin Philharmonic Woodwind Quintet.
Dr. Cruz can be heard playing principal bassoon on the Dallas Chamber Choir’s recording of Mozart’s Requiem. The 2019 album, Mozart Requiem: Remembering Matthew Sheppard 20 Years Later, was recorded at Moody Performance Hall in Dallas, TX.
Jorge completed his Doctor of Musical Musical Arts degree from the University of North Texas in 2017. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from San Jose State University and a Master of Music degree from the University of North Texas. His primary teachers are Kathleen Reynolds, Jerry Dagg, and Cyrle Perry.
Dr. Jorge Cruz currently serves as Visiting Lecturer of Bassoon at the University of North Texas. Prior to this appointment, he served as Adjunct Professor of Bassoon at UNT, Richland College, and Chabot College.
Jorge is the principal bassoonist of the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra and second bassoonist/contrabassoonist of the Abilene Philharmonic. He also regularly performs with the Dallas Opera Orchestra and the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, Jorge’s serves as bassoonist/saxophonist with the Air National Guard Band of the Southwest, historically known as the 531st Air Force Band, a position he has held since 2001.
Students of Dr. Cruz have been accepted into prestigious summer music festivals including the Eastern Music Festival and the Vancouver Orchestral Institute. Additionally, a student woodwind quintet he coached claimed the first place in the 2019 UNT College of Music Chamber Music Studies Competition.
An avid chamber musician, Jorge has been a member of the Madera Wind Quintet since 2009. MWQ performed for the 2012 International Horn Society Conference, 2012 International Double Reed Society Conference, and toured across the country at various universities. Their debut album, Five at Play, was comprised of five new works for wind quintet selected from their Call For Scores competition, which had over 130 submissions. In 2015, MWQ released their sophomore album, Five Piece Combo, which catalogued the three suites for woodwind quintet by Don Gillis and was produced by Ravello Records. MWQ were artists-in-residence at Adams State University in 2016. Part of their residency included recording and performing the newly commissioned work, David J. Pierce’s El Ranchero, for wind quintet and concert band at the 2017 Colorado Music Educators Association conference. Finally, MWQ premiered Jack Stamp’s Suite Madera at the 2018 UTA Clarinet Day. The piece was co-dedicated to MWQ and the Berlin Philharmonic Woodwind Quintet.
Dr. Cruz can be heard playing principal bassoon on the Dallas Chamber Choir’s recording of Mozart’s Requiem. The 2019 album, Mozart Requiem: Remembering Matthew Sheppard 20 Years Later, was recorded at Moody Performance Hall in Dallas, TX.
Jorge completed his Doctor of Musical Musical Arts degree from the University of North Texas in 2017. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from San Jose State University and a Master of Music degree from the University of North Texas. His primary teachers are Kathleen Reynolds, Jerry Dagg, and Cyrle Perry.
Hailed as “a powerhouse in classical saxophone” (University of Toronto), Jeffrey Leung (b. 1991) is an active performer, improviser, and educator. In addition to his work with collaborative artists, Jeffrey is on the Artist Faculty roster with the Maryland Chamber Winds and serves as the Vice President of Novus New Music, Inc. His performance accolades have received numerous honours and awards – most notably from the Skokie Valley Symphony Orchestra and Montreal Symphony Orchestra – and has been described as: “A truly modern virtuoso, Jeffrey effortlessly navigates the most demanding scores for saxophone without losing his trademark warmth, sensitivity, and lyricism” (Roydon Tse, composer).
Curating musical programs spanning traditional to contemporary repertoire, Jeffrey has presented recitals and concerts throughout North America including concerto performances at the Maryland Wind Festival, appearances with the New World Symphony Orchestra and Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings, and has attended workshops at the Banff Centre, American Saxophone Academy, Toronto Creative Music Lab, and Université Européenne de Saxophone. Several of Jeffrey’s performances can be found on albums and recording projects by Michigan State University, people|places|records (PPR), Arts Laureate, and Sly Pup Productions.
Dedicated to the expansion of the saxophone repertoire, Jeffrey has premiered and commissioned over thirty new works for the saxophone including music by Theo Chandler, Spencer Arias, Annika Socolofsky, Keaton Garrett, Alexis Bacon, Timothy Peterson, Roydon Tse, Baldwin Giang, Matthew Browne, Joe Krycia, and Gregory Wanamaker. Since joining Novus New Music Inc. in 2016, Jeffrey has helped organize consortiums for new music by David Biedenbender as well as Novus’ Women in Music Campaign and Novus Spark projects.
Holding degrees from the University of Michigan, Northwestern University, and University of Toronto, Jeffrey is pursuing dual degrees at Michigan State University (Doctor of Musical Arts in Saxophone Performance; Master of Music in Music Theory) at Michigan State University where he is a Graduate Teaching Assistant. Jeffrey’s mentors include Professor Joseph Lulloff, Dr. Timothy McAllister, and Dr. Wallace Halladay.
Hailed as “a powerhouse in classical saxophone” (University of Toronto), Jeffrey Leung (b. 1991) is an active performer, improviser, and educator. In addition to his work with collaborative artists, Jeffrey is on the Artist Faculty roster with the Maryland Chamber Winds and serves as the Vice President of Novus New Music, Inc. His performance accolades have received numerous honours and awards – most notably from the Skokie Valley Symphony Orchestra and Montreal Symphony Orchestra – and has been described as: “A truly modern virtuoso, Jeffrey effortlessly navigates the most demanding scores for saxophone without losing his trademark warmth, sensitivity, and lyricism” (Roydon Tse, composer).
Curating musical programs spanning traditional to contemporary repertoire, Jeffrey has presented recitals and concerts throughout North America including concerto performances at the Maryland Wind Festival, appearances with the New World Symphony Orchestra and Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings, and has attended workshops at the Banff Centre, American Saxophone Academy, Toronto Creative Music Lab, and Université Européenne de Saxophone. Several of Jeffrey’s performances can be found on albums and recording projects by Michigan State University, people|places|records (PPR), Arts Laureate, and Sly Pup Productions.
Dedicated to the expansion of the saxophone repertoire, Jeffrey has premiered and commissioned over thirty new works for the saxophone including music by Theo Chandler, Spencer Arias, Annika Socolofsky, Keaton Garrett, Alexis Bacon, Timothy Peterson, Roydon Tse, Baldwin Giang, Matthew Browne, Joe Krycia, and Gregory Wanamaker. Since joining Novus New Music Inc. in 2016, Jeffrey has helped organize consortiums for new music by David Biedenbender as well as Novus’ Women in Music Campaign and Novus Spark projects.
Holding degrees from the University of Michigan, Northwestern University, and University of Toronto, Jeffrey is pursuing dual degrees at Michigan State University (Doctor of Musical Arts in Saxophone Performance; Master of Music in Music Theory) at Michigan State University where he is a Graduate Teaching Assistant. Jeffrey’s mentors include Professor Joseph Lulloff, Dr. Timothy McAllister, and Dr. Wallace Halladay.
Ms. Bentley is currently the Fourth Horn of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. She received her Master of Music degree in Horn Performance under the tutelage of Professor Michael Thornton at the University of Colorado Boulder College of Music. Her Bachelor of Music degree was earned cum laude from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where she studied with Randy Gardner and Elizabeth Freimuth. She has had additional studies with John Zirbel, of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal.
She has made orchestral appearances with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Louisville Orchestra, Colorado Symphony Orchestra, and New World Symphony among others as well as having performed on the soundtracks of several major video games and motion pictures. With playing lauded by ArtsKnoxville as “impressive” and “lovely”, she was also the Acting Second Horn of the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera during the 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 seasons. Outside of performing, Kelsey enjoys hiking and spending time with her family, including her two dogs Dolly and Bruno.
Ms. Bentley is currently the Fourth Horn of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. She received her Master of Music degree in Horn Performance under the tutelage of Professor Michael Thornton at the University of Colorado Boulder College of Music. Her Bachelor of Music degree was earned cum laude from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where she studied with Randy Gardner and Elizabeth Freimuth. She has had additional studies with John Zirbel, of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal.
She has made orchestral appearances with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Louisville Orchestra, Colorado Symphony Orchestra, and New World Symphony among others as well as having performed on the soundtracks of several major video games and motion pictures. With playing lauded by ArtsKnoxville as “impressive” and “lovely”, she was also the Acting Second Horn of the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera during the 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 seasons. Outside of performing, Kelsey enjoys hiking and spending time with her family, including her two dogs Dolly and Bruno.
Anne-Marie Cherry is a versatile performer and educator enjoying a varied career as a soloist, chamber/orchestral musician, clinician, and recording artist. Since 2019, Dr. Cherry has lived in Columbus, GA, where she serves as Assistant Professor of Horn for the Schwob School of Music, performs regularly with ensembles throughout the Southeast, and enjoys hikes along Georgia’s many trails. During the summers, Anne-Marie performs as Co-Principal Horn in the Breckenridge Music Festival.
A strong advocate of performer/composer collaboration, Anne-Marie frequently commissions new works for the horn in diverse contexts. One collaboration, Zack Stanton’s Trio for Horn, Harp and Viola, won the International Horn Society’s composition contest (virtuoso division) in 2018, and can be heard on his album Echoes of Veiled Light. Additionally, she is the featured solo horn on the soundtrack of the film The Last Full Measure.
An active guest artist & clinician, she explores applications of mindfulness in music performance, pedagogy and practice with students and teachers around the country.
Anne-Marie Cherry is a versatile performer and educator enjoying a varied career as a soloist, chamber/orchestral musician, clinician, and recording artist. Since 2019, Dr. Cherry has lived in Columbus, GA, where she serves as Assistant Professor of Horn for the Schwob School of Music, performs regularly with ensembles throughout the Southeast, and enjoys hikes along Georgia’s many trails. During the summers, Anne-Marie performs as Co-Principal Horn in the Breckenridge Music Festival.
A strong advocate of performer/composer collaboration, Anne-Marie frequently commissions new works for the horn in diverse contexts. One collaboration, Zack Stanton’s Trio for Horn, Harp and Viola, won the International Horn Society’s composition contest (virtuoso division) in 2018, and can be heard on his album Echoes of Veiled Light. Additionally, she is the featured solo horn on the soundtrack of the film The Last Full Measure.
An active guest artist & clinician, she explores applications of mindfulness in music performance, pedagogy and practice with students and teachers around the country.
Dakota Corbliss is an active performer, educator, and entrepreneur. He frequently travels up and down the east coast as a freelance musician.
Dakota’s current titles include Third Horn of the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, Director of Operations and Program Development at FredBrass, as well as President and Artistic Director of the Tidewater Brass Institute. He has played with the Virginia Symphony, New World Symphony, Miami City Ballet, South Florida Philharmonic, New River Valley Symphony, the United States Navy Band Southwest, the United States Air Force Heritage of America Band, and many other ensembles.
Dakota helped found Vice City Brass, a collective of brass and electronic musicians aiming to bridge the generational gap between the past, present, and future.
Dakota earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music Education and Music Performance from Virginia Tech, where he was a featured soloist with both the Virginia Tech Wind Ensemble and the nearby New River Valley Symphony. He then continued to the University of Miami where he earned his Masters of Music in Instrumental Performance. He is currently studying with J.D. Shaw at the University of South Carolina in pursuit of his Doctorate of Musical Arts. Past teachers include Wally Easter, Richard Todd, Jeffrey Scott, and Rebecca Peppard.
Dakota Corbliss is an active performer, educator, and entrepreneur. He frequently travels up and down the east coast as a freelance musician.
Dakota’s current titles include Third Horn of the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, Director of Operations and Program Development at FredBrass, as well as President and Artistic Director of the Tidewater Brass Institute. He has played with the Virginia Symphony, New World Symphony, Miami City Ballet, South Florida Philharmonic, New River Valley Symphony, the United States Navy Band Southwest, the United States Air Force Heritage of America Band, and many other ensembles.
Dakota helped found Vice City Brass, a collective of brass and electronic musicians aiming to bridge the generational gap between the past, present, and future.
Dakota earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music Education and Music Performance from Virginia Tech, where he was a featured soloist with both the Virginia Tech Wind Ensemble and the nearby New River Valley Symphony. He then continued to the University of Miami where he earned his Masters of Music in Instrumental Performance. He is currently studying with J.D. Shaw at the University of South Carolina in pursuit of his Doctorate of Musical Arts. Past teachers include Wally Easter, Richard Todd, Jeffrey Scott, and Rebecca Peppard.
Danielle Fisher is an educator, composer, and performer living in Fort Worth, TX. Danielle is currently an Assistant Band Director in Alvarado Independent School District, where she teaches 5th Grade general music and beginning, middle, and high school band. She spends much of her time composing and arranging for her own students in the Alvarado band program. Danielle enjoys composing and arranging for her colleagues and their young ensembles throughout the country. In addition to her work in the public schools, Danielle currently serves as Staff Arranger for Maryland Chamber Winds, and has produced over fifteen original compositions, transcriptions, and arrangements for MCW since 2016.
Danielle received a B.M.E. in Music Education and a B.M. in Music Theory/Composition from Illinois State University where she studied composition with David Maslanka, Martha Horst, and David Feurzeig. After her undergraduate work, Danielle freelanced and managed large studios of trumpet and french horn students, first in central Illinois and then in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex while she completed her M.M. in Music Education at the University of North Texas. Her Master’s thesis led her to develop her ‘Little Band Big Impact’ body of repertoire, which makes standards of the wind literature available to small programs through a 4-Part + Optional Percussion orchestration model.
More information about Danielle and her music is available at: www.daniellefisher.net
Danielle Fisher is an educator, composer, and performer living in Fort Worth, TX. Danielle is currently an Assistant Band Director in Alvarado Independent School District, where she teaches 5th Grade general music and beginning, middle, and high school band. She spends much of her time composing and arranging for her own students in the Alvarado band program. Danielle enjoys composing and arranging for her colleagues and their young ensembles throughout the country. In addition to her work in the public schools, Danielle currently serves as Staff Arranger for Maryland Chamber Winds, and has produced over fifteen original compositions, transcriptions, and arrangements for MCW since 2016.
Danielle received a B.M.E. in Music Education and a B.M. in Music Theory/Composition from Illinois State University where she studied composition with David Maslanka, Martha Horst, and David Feurzeig. After her undergraduate work, Danielle freelanced and managed large studios of trumpet and french horn students, first in central Illinois and then in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex while she completed her M.M. in Music Education at the University of North Texas. Her Master’s thesis led her to develop her ‘Little Band Big Impact’ body of repertoire, which makes standards of the wind literature available to small programs through a 4-Part + Optional Percussion orchestration model.
More information about Danielle and her music is available at: www.daniellefisher.net
Dr. Rachel Hockenberry is the Assistant Professor of Horn at Illinois State University. Since moving to Illinois in 2018, Rachel has performed with the Heartland Festival Orchestra, Quad Cities Symphony, Champaign-Urbana Symphony, and the Stiletto Brass Quintet. Prior to 2018, Rachel enjoyed a busy career throughout Southern California and Cincinnati, Ohio as a horn performer and music educator. She has performed with the Columbus Symphony, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra Kentucky, Santa Barbara Symphony, Fresno Philharmonic, Redlands Symphony, Pacific Opera Project, Opera San Luis Obispo, Golden State Pops, Wind Orchestra of the West, Southeast Symphony, and Chamber Orchestra of the South Bay. She is principal horn of the Queen City Opera, where in October of 2015 she had the distinct pleasure of performing the infamous “Long Call” from Act II of Richard Wagner’s Siegfried. She has also performed with artists such as Billy Idol, Pete Townshend, and Jon Batiste, and has recorded for television series.
Before transitioning to Illinois State, Rachel was the horn professor at Pasadena City College and Los Angeles City College, and kept a large private studio of young hornists throughout Los Angeles County who successfully auditioned into the California All State and All Southern Bands and the Colburn Youth Orchestra. She incorporates elements of El Sistema - a music education philosophy based on the belief that music is a transformative and fundamental human right for all people - into every aspect of her teaching career. Rachel is a graduate of the Sistema Fellows Program at the New England Conservatory of Music, and has completed residencies with El Sistema programs in Venezuela and across the United States. Upon graduation from the Sistema Fellowship, she became the founding director of Kentucky’s first El Sistema inspired program, North Limestone MusicWorks.
A Virginia native, Rachel received her bachelors degree in horn performance from James Madison University. She earned her masters and doctoral degrees in horn performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where she also completed cognate studies in arts administration. Primary teachers include Randy Gardner, Tom Sherwood, Liz Freimuth, Duane Dugger and Abigail Pack, with additional instruction from David Ohanian and Roger Kaza.
Dr. Rachel Hockenberry is the Assistant Professor of Horn at Illinois State University. Since moving to Illinois in 2018, Rachel has performed with the Heartland Festival Orchestra, Quad Cities Symphony, Champaign-Urbana Symphony, and the Stiletto Brass Quintet. Prior to 2018, Rachel enjoyed a busy career throughout Southern California and Cincinnati, Ohio as a horn performer and music educator. She has performed with the Columbus Symphony, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra Kentucky, Santa Barbara Symphony, Fresno Philharmonic, Redlands Symphony, Pacific Opera Project, Opera San Luis Obispo, Golden State Pops, Wind Orchestra of the West, Southeast Symphony, and Chamber Orchestra of the South Bay. She is principal horn of the Queen City Opera, where in October of 2015 she had the distinct pleasure of performing the infamous “Long Call” from Act II of Richard Wagner’s Siegfried. She has also performed with artists such as Billy Idol, Pete Townshend, and Jon Batiste, and has recorded for television series.
Before transitioning to Illinois State, Rachel was the horn professor at Pasadena City College and Los Angeles City College, and kept a large private studio of young hornists throughout Los Angeles County who successfully auditioned into the California All State and All Southern Bands and the Colburn Youth Orchestra. She incorporates elements of El Sistema - a music education philosophy based on the belief that music is a transformative and fundamental human right for all people - into every aspect of her teaching career. Rachel is a graduate of the Sistema Fellows Program at the New England Conservatory of Music, and has completed residencies with El Sistema programs in Venezuela and across the United States. Upon graduation from the Sistema Fellowship, she became the founding director of Kentucky’s first El Sistema inspired program, North Limestone MusicWorks.
A Virginia native, Rachel received her bachelors degree in horn performance from James Madison University. She earned her masters and doctoral degrees in horn performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where she also completed cognate studies in arts administration. Primary teachers include Randy Gardner, Tom Sherwood, Liz Freimuth, Duane Dugger and Abigail Pack, with additional instruction from David Ohanian and Roger Kaza.
2022 Guest Musicians
Sean Donovan is currently the Fourth Horn of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. He also serves as Principal Horn of the Johnson City Symphony Orchestra and as Fourth Horn of the Symphony of the Mountains. Engaged in orchestras across the southeast as a performer of the horn and the Wagner tuba, his playing has been called “delightful” by ArtsKnoxville and described by KCMetropolis as “revelatory… magical” and “charmingly demented.”
Originally primarily active as an award-winning chamber musician, he received his education from Middle Tennessee State University studying with Radu Rusu and Angela DeBoer, during which time he was a concerto soloist in works of Mozart, Haydn, and James Stephenson. He was awarded the now-called Volker Brass Fellowship to attend the University of Missouri-Kansas City and studied with Ellen Campbell and Thomas Bacon, with additional studies with Dr. Hali Fieldman.
Donovan is also on faculty at East Tennessee State University, having taught a wide range of music courses in addition to the applied horn curriculum. When not on stage or in the classroom, he enjoys traveling, home-cooking, and the music of Gregory Porter.
Sean Donovan is currently the Fourth Horn of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. He also serves as Principal Horn of the Johnson City Symphony Orchestra and as Fourth Horn of the Symphony of the Mountains. Engaged in orchestras across the southeast as a performer of the horn and the Wagner tuba, his playing has been called “delightful” by ArtsKnoxville and described by KCMetropolis as “revelatory… magical” and “charmingly demented.”
Originally primarily active as an award-winning chamber musician, he received his education from Middle Tennessee State University studying with Radu Rusu and Angela DeBoer, during which time he was a concerto soloist in works of Mozart, Haydn, and James Stephenson. He was awarded the now-called Volker Brass Fellowship to attend the University of Missouri-Kansas City and studied with Ellen Campbell and Thomas Bacon, with additional studies with Dr. Hali Fieldman.
Donovan is also on faculty at East Tennessee State University, having taught a wide range of music courses in addition to the applied horn curriculum. When not on stage or in the classroom, he enjoys traveling, home-cooking, and the music of Gregory Porter.
Praised for his “warm dark sound, lovely vibrato and impressive staccato tonguing,” award-winning bassoonist Dr. Dillon Meacham performs as a soloist and sought-after collaborative artist throughout the United States.
Dr. Meacham’s diverse orchestral career includes serving as principal bassoon of the Adelphi Orchestra and performing with the Hartford Symphony, Greater Bridgeport Symphony, Colorado Springs Philharmonic, New World Symphony, Symphony in C, Stony Brook Symphony Orchestra, Yale Philharmonia, and the Juilliard Orchestra, along with his active freelance work. He also performs frequently with the New York Kammermusiker around the country for a wide variety of audiences.
Dr. Meacham gave the acclaimed premiere of a new Concertino for bassoon and orchestra composed by Michael Torke with the Albany Symphony Orchestra. He was a winner of the Eastern Music Festival's concerto competition, where he played the first movement of the W. A. Mozart Bassoon Concerto with orchestra, and he performed at the 2014 International Double Reed Society Conference in New York City. In his hometown of Blacksburg, Virginia, he was a featured soloist with multiple ensembles performing the von Weber Bassoon Concerto. Dr. Meacham was invited to attend the Bowdoin International Music Festival as a Kaplan Fellow, and has also participated in the Sarasota and Canyon Arts Music Festivals, the Banff Centre Master Classes, and the Brevard Music Center. He enjoys refining his artistry and reed-making skills in the summers at the Glickman-Popkin Bassoon Camp in Little Switzerland, North Carolina.
Dr. Meacham earned his doctorate from Stony Brook University, and also holds degrees from the Yale University School of Music, The Juilliard School, and the Peabody Conservatory. His primary teachers are Frank Morelli and Phillip Kolker. He is the first playing owner of an 11,000 series Heckel bassoon built in 1971.
Praised for his “warm dark sound, lovely vibrato and impressive staccato tonguing,” award-winning bassoonist Dr. Dillon Meacham performs as a soloist and sought-after collaborative artist throughout the United States.
Dr. Meacham’s diverse orchestral career includes serving as principal bassoon of the Adelphi Orchestra and performing with the Hartford Symphony, Greater Bridgeport Symphony, Colorado Springs Philharmonic, New World Symphony, Symphony in C, Stony Brook Symphony Orchestra, Yale Philharmonia, and the Juilliard Orchestra, along with his active freelance work. He also performs frequently with the New York Kammermusiker around the country for a wide variety of audiences.
Dr. Meacham gave the acclaimed premiere of a new Concertino for bassoon and orchestra composed by Michael Torke with the Albany Symphony Orchestra. He was a winner of the Eastern Music Festival's concerto competition, where he played the first movement of the W. A. Mozart Bassoon Concerto with orchestra, and he performed at the 2014 International Double Reed Society Conference in New York City. In his hometown of Blacksburg, Virginia, he was a featured soloist with multiple ensembles performing the von Weber Bassoon Concerto. Dr. Meacham was invited to attend the Bowdoin International Music Festival as a Kaplan Fellow, and has also participated in the Sarasota and Canyon Arts Music Festivals, the Banff Centre Master Classes, and the Brevard Music Center. He enjoys refining his artistry and reed-making skills in the summers at the Glickman-Popkin Bassoon Camp in Little Switzerland, North Carolina.
Dr. Meacham earned his doctorate from Stony Brook University, and also holds degrees from the Yale University School of Music, The Juilliard School, and the Peabody Conservatory. His primary teachers are Frank Morelli and Phillip Kolker. He is the first playing owner of an 11,000 series Heckel bassoon built in 1971.
Dr. Midori Samson (she/her) is a bassoonist, educator, activist, and scholar. In addition to her role with Maryland Chamber Winds, she recently joined the faculty at Illinois State University and is Section Bassoon of the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra. Other recent activities include collaborations with Yo-Yo Ma and Youth Music Culture Guangdong (China), Gabriela Lena Frank Creative Academy of Music, Mashirika Theater Company (Rwanda), Artists Striving to End Poverty (India), The Peace Studio (New York), Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Project Tumugtog (Philippines), and Flying Carpet Festival (Turkey).
Midori holds degrees from The Juilliard School, University of Texas at Austin, and University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her dissertation discusses how musicians can operationalize social work principles to create a more anti-racist, anti-colonialist classical music landscape. She brings this philosophy to her role as Artistic Director of Trade Winds Ensemble, a group of teaching artists that host community engagement workshops with social impact organizations in Nairobi, Chicago, Detroit, and Oklahoma. MidoriSamson.com
Dr. Midori Samson (she/her) is a bassoonist, educator, activist, and scholar. In addition to her role with Maryland Chamber Winds, she recently joined the faculty at Illinois State University and is Section Bassoon of the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra. Other recent activities include collaborations with Yo-Yo Ma and Youth Music Culture Guangdong (China), Gabriela Lena Frank Creative Academy of Music, Mashirika Theater Company (Rwanda), Artists Striving to End Poverty (India), The Peace Studio (New York), Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Project Tumugtog (Philippines), and Flying Carpet Festival (Turkey).
Midori holds degrees from The Juilliard School, University of Texas at Austin, and University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her dissertation discusses how musicians can operationalize social work principles to create a more anti-racist, anti-colonialist classical music landscape. She brings this philosophy to her role as Artistic Director of Trade Winds Ensemble, a group of teaching artists that host community engagement workshops with social impact organizations in Nairobi, Chicago, Detroit, and Oklahoma. MidoriSamson.com
Nick Thompson is a versatile orchestral, chamber musician, and educator based out of the Ann Arbor, MI area. Nick will be joining the clarinet section of "The President's Own" United States Marine Band in Washington, D.C., in Fall 2022. Nick currently holds the positions of Principal Clarinet with the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, Flint Symphony Orchestra and Lima Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed frequently with various other orchestras such as the Detroit Symphony, Toledo Symphony, Kalamazoo Symphony, Ann Arbor Symphony, Canton Symphony, Akron Symphony, and many others. He is a Finalist for the 2022 American Prize in Instrumental Performance and has won the Second Prize in the 2021 Henri Selmer Paris International Academy Competition. He has performed Mozart's Clarinet Concerto with the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra in 2022, and Debussy’s Premiere Rhapsodie with the George Mason University Symphony Orchestra in 2016. Nick is also a founding member of the Chamber Artists of Southeast Michigan (CASM) - a chamber music group founded in 2017 that brings performances as well as educational and scholarship opportunities specifically to the Downriver area of Detroit, MI.
A native of Great Falls, VA, Nick is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Michigan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a Master of Music degree in Clarinet Performance and also graduated cum laude from George Mason University with a Bachelor of Music in Clarinet Performance. He has primarily studied with Chad Burrow, Dan Gilbert, Kathy Mulcahy, and Rochelle Oedemann, as well as performed in masterclasses for Richie Hawley, Ralph Skiano, Ricardo Morales, Diana Haskell, Eli Eban, J Lawrie Bloom, and Loren Kitt. Nick has also attended the AIMS Festival in Graz, Chautauqua Institution, and the Sewanee Summer Music Festival.
Nick Thompson is a versatile orchestral, chamber musician, and educator based out of the Ann Arbor, MI area. Nick will be joining the clarinet section of "The President's Own" United States Marine Band in Washington, D.C., in Fall 2022. Nick currently holds the positions of Principal Clarinet with the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, Flint Symphony Orchestra and Lima Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed frequently with various other orchestras such as the Detroit Symphony, Toledo Symphony, Kalamazoo Symphony, Ann Arbor Symphony, Canton Symphony, Akron Symphony, and many others. He is a Finalist for the 2022 American Prize in Instrumental Performance and has won the Second Prize in the 2021 Henri Selmer Paris International Academy Competition. He has performed Mozart's Clarinet Concerto with the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra in 2022, and Debussy’s Premiere Rhapsodie with the George Mason University Symphony Orchestra in 2016. Nick is also a founding member of the Chamber Artists of Southeast Michigan (CASM) - a chamber music group founded in 2017 that brings performances as well as educational and scholarship opportunities specifically to the Downriver area of Detroit, MI.
A native of Great Falls, VA, Nick is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Michigan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a Master of Music degree in Clarinet Performance and also graduated cum laude from George Mason University with a Bachelor of Music in Clarinet Performance. He has primarily studied with Chad Burrow, Dan Gilbert, Kathy Mulcahy, and Rochelle Oedemann, as well as performed in masterclasses for Richie Hawley, Ralph Skiano, Ricardo Morales, Diana Haskell, Eli Eban, J Lawrie Bloom, and Loren Kitt. Nick has also attended the AIMS Festival in Graz, Chautauqua Institution, and the Sewanee Summer Music Festival.
2022 Intern
Doug Bell is currently a senior music education major at the Greenwood School of Music at Oklahoma State University. Doug will graduate in December of 2022 with his B.M. in Music Education after completing his student teaching semester at Bixby High School located outside of Tulsa, OK. During his time at Oklahoma State, Doug has performed with the Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Frontiers New Music Ensemble, The OSU Trombone Choir, and the Cowboy Marching Band. In the fall of 2021, Doug served as a Drum Major for the Cowboy Marching Band. In addition to ensembles, Doug is a brother of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and Kappa Kappa Psi, and he served as the president for OSU’s NAfME Chapter for the 2020-2021 school year. Doug studied trombone with Professor Paul Compton, and he studied conducting with Dr. Tyler Austin.
Outside of school, Doug enjoys cycling, perfecting his cup of coffee, and watching Formula 1. He served as a Drum Major for Cadets2 Drum and Bugle corps in 2017 and 2018. Additionally, he served as an Assistant Drum Major at Carolina Crown in 2019, and Head Drum Major in 2020 and 2021.
Doug Bell is currently a senior music education major at the Greenwood School of Music at Oklahoma State University. Doug will graduate in December of 2022 with his B.M. in Music Education after completing his student teaching semester at Bixby High School located outside of Tulsa, OK. During his time at Oklahoma State, Doug has performed with the Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Frontiers New Music Ensemble, The OSU Trombone Choir, and the Cowboy Marching Band. In the fall of 2021, Doug served as a Drum Major for the Cowboy Marching Band. In addition to ensembles, Doug is a brother of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and Kappa Kappa Psi, and he served as the president for OSU’s NAfME Chapter for the 2020-2021 school year. Doug studied trombone with Professor Paul Compton, and he studied conducting with Dr. Tyler Austin.
Outside of school, Doug enjoys cycling, perfecting his cup of coffee, and watching Formula 1. He served as a Drum Major for Cadets2 Drum and Bugle corps in 2017 and 2018. Additionally, he served as an Assistant Drum Major at Carolina Crown in 2019, and Head Drum Major in 2020 and 2021.